food

Saskatoons just becoming ripe enough to pick.

There’s nothing like a harvest of berries you didn’t have to pamper. Around here that includes Saskatoons. Unlike my garden that requires all kinds of attention, the only thing I worry about with Saskatoons is when to pick them. Some years are better than others and this year is pretty good.

Tim picking Saskatoons from a fairly tall tree.

The trees can get quite high, so it can be a challenge to reach the berries, especially since the deer and other wildlife, often clean up the lower branches.

Saskatoon stained hand.

It makes a mess of your hands, but the flavour is well worth it.

Saskatoon pie hot out of the oven.

We’ve gone picking several times now and have quite a few pie-sized portions in the freezer.

Back out on the lake, this time with friends.

Back to the lake again today. The ice is still very smooth, but the snow is already starting to build on the surface.

Cooking hot dogs around the campfire. You'll notice that the ice is now thick enough to support vehicles.

This time the pet dogs stayed home, and Tim and the hot dogs came with. We met with some friends who’d invited us to a wiener roast. A roaring fire kept us nice and cozy. We even toasted the buns over the fire to try to keep the hot dogs from becoming cold dogs before we could eat them. To me hot dogs were meant to be roasted over open flames — a little wrinkly with a touch of carbon is how I like them best.

Tim cruising around amid the falling snow as the daylight dwindles.

The skating was very good despite the snow blown onto the ice and falling from the sky. We skated for miles. I was delightedly bushed by the time we left. I’m sure I’ll sleep like a log.